Strands Hint and Answers for Feb. 25 Puzzle: 'That's really out there' Reveals SPACECRAFT Spangram
Latest update for solvers: the Feb. 25 NYT Strands puzzle (No. 724) uses the theme “That’s really out there, ” and the spangram is SPACECRAFT. If you needed a quick strands hint to finish the grid, this confirms the central theme and the list of theme entries that complete the board.
Strands Hint: Theme, Clue and Spangram
The theme for the Feb. 25 puzzle is summarized by the phrase “That’s really out there. ” The provided clue is “Ground control to Major Tom, ” steering solvers toward space-related answers. The spangram that spans the board is SPACECRAFT; one suggested path to trace it begins at the S located six letters down on the far-left vertical column, then winds up, down and across to cover the full span.
Puzzle Answers and Word List
When solved, the board contains a cluster of space-focused theme words in addition to the spangram. The theme words identified for this puzzle are:
- ROVER
- PROBE
- LANDER
- SATELLITE
- MODULE
- ORBITER
Non-theme words may also appear on the board. One example visible on the solved layout is OVER in the bottom-left, which is not part of the theme but can help unlock hints during play.
How the Game Works and Using a Strands Hint
Strands asks players to find hidden words that align with the puzzle’s theme. Words must be four letters or longer and can travel in any direction across the board; each letter can be used only once per word. Every time a solver submits three non-theme words of four or more letters, the game will reveal one of the theme words—this is the mechanism behind unlocking a strands hint during play.
Finding the spangram usually makes the rest of the puzzle easier, since the spangram explicitly states the theme and stretches across the board either left-to-right or top-to-bottom. When a hint is used, the game highlights letters for one of the theme words; players must then link those letters in the correct order to complete that entry. If you prefer minimal help, submit only the non-theme words you can find and use the hint feature once it becomes available.
Context and What Solvers Should Know Next
This entry follows the prior day’s puzzle (game #723). For players tracking the daily series, the Feb. 25 puzzle reinforces how a clear thematic clue can tie together multiple space-related entries and a single spangram that unifies the board. Use the SPACECRAFT spangram and the listed theme words as anchors if you revisit the puzzle or help others who are stuck.
Recent updates indicate that the listed theme words and the spangram are the confirmed solutions for this puzzle; details about letter placement are shown on solved boards. If you are still working through the grid, start by locating obvious short words, submit three qualifying non-theme entries to earn a hint, and then trace SPACECRAFT beginning at the far-left S to unlock connected theme answers.
